Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City on Thursday, attempting to repair the strained U.S.-Vatican relations following recent criticisms of the Pope by President Trump. After the meeting, Rubio stated that both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting peace and upholding human dignity. The Vatican statement also confirmed that both parties agreed to maintain a healthy bilateral relationship between the Holy See and the United States. Previously, after Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the war against Iran by the United States and Israel, Trump publicly labeled him "weak" and "terrible," sparking dissatisfaction within the Vatican. Rubio's visit is seen as a diplomatic de-escalation effort. During the talks, both sides discussed the urgency of addressing humanitarian crises and advancing peace, and exchanged gifts: Rubio presented the Pope with a crystal olive ball paperweight—though the Pope has no interest in rugby—while the Pope gifted Rubio a steel pen made from olive wood, symbolizing peace. American internet users quickly joked that each gave the other something they didn’t care about: a crystal olive ball and peace. On Friday, Rubio is also scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Meloni, as well as Italy’s foreign minister and defense minister.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864598364901386/
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